Glass structure



(No Model.)

B. W. CUNNINGHAM.

GLASS STRUCTURE.

N0. 508,287. Patented NOV. 7, 1893.

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.4 TTOHNEYS.

- UNITED STATES EDGAR W. CUNNINGHAM, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

GLASS STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent.No. 508,287, dated November 7, 1893.

P TENT OFFICE.

Application filed June so, 1893- smn 110.479.240. (No man.)

To all whom itmay-concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR W. CUNNING- HAM,-of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Glass Structures, of which the following is a'full, clear, and exact description. 7

My invention pertains to an improved construction of sky-lights and the roof and sides of green-houses or conservatories and the like.

The invention consists in the novel construction andcombination of the severalparts, as will be hereinafter fullyset forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of opposing panels provided with the improved casing and illustrating the panels connected, the same View illustrating also the supports for the panels, one of the supportsbeing in section.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken practically onthe linev 22 ofv Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, takenpra'cticallyon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the binding strips. Fig. 5 is a similar view of another strip having a gutter formed integral with it; and Fig. 6 is a transverse section through panels provided with the casing strip. shown in Fig.5, said Fig. 6 likewise illustrating avertical section through one of the supporting beams and its cover.

Thev beams A and the caps B for the beams are of the ordinary construction, the beams being adapted to support the glass panels 0, d the cap plates being adapted to cover the upper portions of the beams, while the beams A are connected and braced by means of bars D of any approved construction.

The supporting beams A are practically of inverted T-shape, and those -employed preforably in connection with the plain casing strips shown in Fig. 4

are provided with gutters a, the gutters being produced in the head gmortions of the beams, one at each side of the shank or upright-portion. The binding or spring material, as for example sheet brass,

mit the panels to and the material is bent upon itself to form an outer vertical straight wall 10, and is then bent downward at the top parallel with the inner side of the wall, forming a ridge 11; and finally the upper edge of the metallic strip is bent downward away from the outerstraight wall 10, standing at more or less of anlobtuse angle to said wall, andforming a longitudinal, downwardly inclined flange 12.

The metal at the lower edge of the straight wall 10, is bent in like direction as the inclined flange 12, forming thereby a lower flange 13; but the lower flange is horizontal and stands at an angle to the outer or straight wall. Thus the distance between the flanges 12 and 13 at their inner edges is less than the distance between them at their outer edges. The flange 12, is adapted to act as a shed, since the edges of the glass panels are introduced between the flanges 12 and 13, of the binding or casing strips E, the edge of the panel being practically made to abut against the inner surface of the straight wall 10, as shown in both Figs. 1 and 2, while the upper flange 12 will engage firmly at its inner edge with the top or upper surface of the panel, engaging at no other point in its length, as is likewise shown in Figs. 2 and 6, thereby providing for more or less expansion and contraction of the glass, or of the beams A, or other supports forthe panels when such contraction ,is in a vertical, direction, while the elasticity of the entire binding strip will peryield in any direction. It will alsobe noted that the inner angles of the cap, B, rest upon the sloping flanges, 12, and hence, when the cap is forced down by the nuts, 17, the said the panels with forming a closer wise exist.

.When a binding or casing strip is placed upon the edge of a panel, the under flange 13 will engage throughout its length and width with'the under surface of the panel. Thus when a panel is incased with the casing or contact than would otherbinding strip E above described, and two panels are made to abutfas shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the straight walls 10 of the binding or casing strips'are brought together and soldered, brazed, or connected in some equivalent manner, as shown at 1 1 in flanges are pressed upon corresponding force, thus Fig. 3,, y

this manner the panels are connected much more expeditiously and economically than heretofore, and the panels while in connection with the framing of the structure when united in the manner above described, add materially to the structural strength.

Instead of making the flange 13 straight, as shown in Fig. 4, t may be shaped at its inner edge in such manner as to form a longitudinalgutter 13*,butthe flange 13 will be of the same width as the upper flange 12, the gutter being located out of the vertical plane of the upper flange. Consequently, when this form of the binding or casing strip is used, the metal from which the lower flange is to be made must necessarily be wider than when the form of binding or casing strip illustrated in Fig. 4. is to be produced.

When placing the panels incased as above set forth, their side edges are supported upon one horizontal member of the beams A, and when the gutter 13 is omitted, the form of beam illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is preferably employed, in which the condensation gutters a are produced. The glass panels are connected through the medium of their binding strips in the manner above stated, but other supports may be provided for them in addition to the beams A, if in practice it is found desirable.

When placing the binding strips around the glass panels, the strips may be soldered together at their adjoining ends; and inthe event the guttered beams A, are used to support the sides of the panels, the binding or casing strips located at the ends of the panels may be provided with gutters, as shown in Fig. 3, while the side strips will be constructed as shown in Fig. 4; but the side strips may likewise be provided with gutters as illustrated in Fig. 6, in which event the supporting beams A, are made of an inverted T-shape, but the members of the head section A may be made perfectly straight and smooth.

The supporting beams are provided with the usual screws and lock nuts 16 and 17, and the said beams are adapted to receive the caps B heretofore referred to, which are shaped to receive the vertical or shank sections of the beams, and extend over the members of the head section, and consequently over the panels the required distance.

It will be observed that the rib 11 at the upper edge of the binding or casing strips will effectually prevent any water from backing up against the shank member of the supporting beams, and that the flange 12 will fit so closely against the panel, the binding strip being made of spring metal, that water can not possibly pass the flange and enter the binding strip. When placing the binding strips upon abutting ends of glass, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the rib ll-is omitted and the upper flange is preferably made straight, as illustrated at e in Fig. 3, in order that there may be no obstruction to the passage of waterover the connected panels.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a glass structure, the combination,with two aligned panels, of the joining piece consisting of two like metal binding strips,E, the same having straight abutting sides which are soldered together, and parallel flat upper and lower flanges which closely embrace the adjacent opposite ends of said panels .the lower flanges being extended and curved as specified, thus forming a gutter, as shown and described.

2. In a glass structure,the combination,with a supporting beam which is guttered and of inverted T-shape, the cap, B, and means for adjusting the latter, of the elastic binding strips for the panels, the same having a lower flange, the upwardly-projecting ridge, 11, and the downwardlyand outwardly projecting upper flange, 12, as specified, the angles of said cap bearing upon the inclined upper flanges, and thus serving, when forced down, to press said flange more closely upon the panel,-as described.

EDGAR W. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. NEWKIRK, WILLIAM PAEGELON. 

